<p>hey guys. first of congrats to the 270 freshmen that made it in. I could not believe my acceptance, and also my nice 42,000 grant. i mean, dang thats a wad of cash lol.
ok so here's the deal:
I've been reading about the drinking at CMC and thats not a big deal to me. Personally, i drink very little, maybe a beer at a party, but i dont mind my friends drinking if its not just being done to get drunk. I'm more concerned with the rest of the environment at CMC. I am a practicing Catholic and i would say that I'm strong in my morals and well-being, so i'm wondering what that aspect, the religious aspect, of CMC is. I know its not affiliated with any denomination, but is there mass/worship on campus? Does anybody go? any other Catholics on this board that could help me out? lol.
Is there a sense of "morality" on campus, or is it just "what feels good at the moment?" Thanks for any replies guys.</p>
<p>i may have some of you thinking that I'm a religious fanatic, and that was a mistake on my part because i am far from it. I appreciate every religion and non-religious, I'm just wondering if their is at least the opportunity to go to mass or worship, and if there is an aspect of human morality among students.
any ideas? thanks</p>
<p>Yes, I believe there are 5C (shared by all the colleges) religious services on campus. There are many actively practicing Catholics on campus. In fact, I think that many religious people feel more comfortable at CMC than other schools because of CMC's balanced political climate. </p>
<p>I'm not sure quite what you mean by sense of morality on campus. I think most students at most schools would characterize themselves as moral. CMC is not really any different. There are many volunteer opportunities and a special stipend for people who intern at nonprofit organizations over the summer.</p>
<p>thank you for the reply. That is good to hear, especially about the community service aspect. On the morality issue, I mainly am talking about the relationship between students to students, students to faculty, etc. Is there a common good amongst the students, as if they are really wanting to help each other and help others succeed. thanks again.</p>
<p>There are many religious resources available on campus...strong campus groups, regular mass...it's a definite presence. That said, there are also some who are less tolerant. I don't at all mean to suggest that you'll be criticized or ostracized, but you should prepare to have your beliefs challenged (and I mean religious and otherwise). On this note, theboneyking is very possibly correct with his idea about CMC's balanced political climate.</p>
<p>As for common morality, common good, I would say yes, it's here. CMC-ers can have kind of a money-driven reputation, but I think it's more because this paricular population is bigger/louder at CMC than it is at the other colleges, not because the majority of CMC's student body actually feels or acts this way (and regardless, money-driven and moral are certainly not mutually exclusive; I know a future IBanker who spent spring break doing hurricane clean-up).</p>
<p>thanks for the replies. i'm just wondering because I'm coming from a catholic boarding school in arkansas, and I know that claremont will most likely be a new world for me, and that aspect kind of intrigues me a little. But, I dont want to have to change my beliefs or way of life to "fit in" and it sounds like that wont be a problem at CMC. What exactly do u mean that my beliefs may be "challenged?" are u talking about in the classroom, dorms, etc.? I'm ready to debate anything, so that may also be a good thing lol. thanks</p>
<p>I came from a conservative, catholic girls school. I had a bit of culture shock coming from the school environment that I did, mostly because my high school was very one-sided in its beliefs, and Claremont is so diverse. It just required some getting used to (the culture of debate was new to me)!</p>
<p>Also, religion is alive and well on the campuses...lots of groups, lots of events, lots of support. But there are also professors and students who are strongly unreligious (as in NOT religious...NOT as in anti-religion), and can sometimes unintentionally make offensive-ish (presumptuous is perhaps a better word) comments (I've also known this to work the other direction, though less often). It's not the norm and it's not intended negatively or personally, but it's caught me off guard a few times. Basically, don't ever expect to be disrespected, but don't expect your beliefs (religions, political, or anything else) to be "catered to," either. </p>
<p>I'm having a little trouble phrasing this in a way that I'm happy with. I hope it doesn't sound harsher than I intend, because that's really not a fair depiction of the campuses. I guess another easy way of putting it is that many people on the 5Cs--conservative, liberal, religious, or otherwise--are very strong in and passionate about their beliefs, and sometimes they speak with the assumption that those around them feel similarly.</p>
<p>You'll never have to change your beliefs or way of life to fit in, but California in itself is a very different place, and it might require some adjustment :)</p>